DARREN Currie plans to stay in football for the rest of his life.And he is already getting involved in the coaching side - often leading the players' warm-up before training during Ipswich Town's six-day trip to southern Holland.

By Elvin King

DARREN Currie plans to stay in football for the rest of his life.

And he is already getting involved in the coaching side - often leading the players' warm-up before training during Ipswich Town's six-day trip to southern Holland.

“Football is in my blood, and it is the only thing I want to do,” said the 31-year-old midfielder.

“To be honest I am not a lot of good at anything else and my school reports used to reflect this.

“One day - hopefully a few years down the road yet - I want to be a coach or manager. The experience I am getting at the moment working with the lads is good preparation. I like to have a voice, and I like to have my opinion.

“I know when I was 17 or 18 I used to look up to players in their early thirties, and these kids we have at the club are all good ones.

“They all want to learn and they all listen. They can see myself and the likes of Fabian Wilnis and Jason De Vos playing and they can see for themselves that they have 15 more years or so left in the game - if they look after themselves.”

Although he played for over an hour in the 1-1 draw against Willem II on Monday, Currie was training in blazing heat with all his usual enthusiasm yesterday morning.

“I would like my team to play the same way as Jim Magilton if I get into the manager's chair,” added Currie. “I would like to see total football played at a high tempo.

“Helping with the warm-ups is perhaps what is expected of senior players, but I see it as great preparation for me when I have to hang up my boots, which will hopefully not be for six years or so.”

He will not admit it, but he is too sensitive not to be concerned about talk of a possible move to Leeds United. This does not look as though it will happen now, but there are rumours that Currie might be sacrificed to bring in new faces to Magilton's squad.

In a telling summing up of his current position, Currie said: “I have a year left on my contract and until I get told anything differently I will continue to do all I can for Ipswich when I cross that white line with a Town shirt on.

“I would like to stay for a long while yet. But sometimes these things are not in a player's hands.”